EPIC - FOIA Documents Reveal DHS Monitoring Political Dissent on Social Networks

From the Times article, it doesn't sound like this was about monitoring "political dissent" but rather about seeing how the public felt about things.

If I post something on my blog expressing my opinion on some issue, or I tweet about it, or otherwise broadcast it to the world, I'm happy if it is read by people who are in a position to decide that issue and might influence them to make the decision I want.

A good friend did the research and filed for the documents... it's going to be in the NY Times today too: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/us/federal-security-progra...